Ankara: Romania deployed four fighter jets overnight to patrol its airspace after Russian forces carried out a large-scale attack on Ukraine's southern regions near the Romanian border, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, a ministry statement revealed that surveillance systems detected a group of aerial targets moving toward the Kiliya Arm and the Danube Delta area. In response, two F-16 aircraft from the 86th Borcha Air Base were scrambled around 00:50 local time (2150GMT) to monitor the situation. This initial deployment was followed by the dispatch of two Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the 57th Mihail Kogelniceanu Air Base at 02:35 (2335GMT) for enhanced air patrol missions.
The ministry's statement reported approximately 10 explosions occurring on Ukrainian territory near the settlements of Izmail and Kiliya in the Odesa region. It was noted that no drones entered Romanian airspace. 'The mission commander was authorized to engage any air targets that might enter Romanian territory and pose a threat to our citizens,' the statement emphasized.
Officials from the Defense and Internal Affairs Ministries, along with Romanian intelligence, are set to assess the Romanian side of the Danube to determine any potential damage or debris resulting from the strikes. The Defense Ministry strongly condemned Russia's attack, labeling it a violation of international law and expressing concerns about the safety of Romanian citizens and the collective security of NATO.
'Such incidents demonstrate Russia's disrespect for international law and endanger not only the safety of Romanian citizens but also the collective security of NATO,' the ministry stated. It reaffirmed Romania's commitment to fulfilling its obligations as a NATO member and its intention to work closely with partners and allies to monitor and protect national airspace.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian attacks hit several Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Dnipro, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy, and Sumy. According to the president, at least six people were killed and 17 injured during the overnight attacks.